Politics
Progressive Netherlands elects Kitty Jong as party leader and joins European social democrats
Kitty Jong, former vice-chair of the FNV trade union, has been elected as the first permanent chair of the Progressive Netherlands (Pro) party, succeeding interim leaders Esther-Mirjam Sent and Kathinka Eikelenboom. In a binding member referendum this week, Pro members voted to join the Party of European Socialists rather than the European Green Party, with 65% supporting the move despite internal divisions. The decision aims to align with the more powerful socialist group in the European Parliament, although current MEPs will remain in their respective factions until 2029. Jong declared herself "shamelessly left" and vowed to build a broad inclusive party, while Mariëtte Hamer was elected as the new parliamentary group leader.
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